Congratulations to the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases for being awarded an ID STEP (Infectious Disease Structured Training and Engagement Program) grant. This grant will be used to develop a program for medical students to expand equitable access to infectious disease expertise for folks living in North Carolina, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The program will be led by Jessica Lin, MD, MSCR, and Brian Bramson, MD, and supported by Sarah Rutstein, MD, PhD and Christopher Sellers, MD, MPH.
The ID STEP program will work to engage medical students early in their education and encourage continued interest through mentoring, hands-on activities, and scholarly projects.
The timeline for the program includes:
- Year 1: Broad Exposure
Quarterly ID-themed mini grand rounds will be aligned with core modules; a “Careers in ID” panel; and integration with the Medical ID Interest Group to bring clinician–educator and research faculty together for high-impact sessions. - Years 1–2: ID STEP Cohort
Individual mentoring plus an “ID STEP Passport” of clinical, quality-improvement, and research activities tailored to each student’s interests; pre-program evaluation of career objectives; reimbursement of related expenses - Years 1–2: ID STEP Scholars
Clinical Scholars will be able to lead QI projects, case series, or sustained clinical experiences. Research Scholars can pursue field, lab, or clinical research, and receive project support and conference travel expenses (e.g., IDWeek) when successfully submitting an abstract.
The program will leverage 40+ clinical ID faculty and 10–13 ID fellows as mentors and peers as well as connections with Wake County Public Health, NC State Prisons, and AHEC centers. The program will also complement UNC pathways (e.g., Kenan Primary Care Medical Scholars, Global Health Scholars, Castillo Scholars, STAHR Mentorship) to amplify reach and impact.
Read more about the program here.